"Far, please!" Trick cried, pounding on the blonde's chest weakly. "I want to go home!"

"I'm taking you home." Far said. "No...I'm...I'm taking you to the hospital...I want to make sure you're all alright."

Zero looked toward Treat before he pulled himself to his feet, wincing a bit but forcing himself not to cry out.

They'd be back in doctor's care soon enough.

--scene break--

Mello yawned as he sat in the passenger seat of the car. He felt terrible, the car was making him a bit sick to the stomach, but he wasn't going to bother Near with that right now as they drove.

It was weird watching Near drive. It was obvious that Matt or Ender had fixed up the car so he could see over the wheel and still hit the petals, but he looked almost... normal behind the wheel.

He'd always thought it was weird seeing Near acting like an average person and this time was no exception.

"...Can you cook?" Mello asked.

Looking surprised, Near looked over at the blonde. "Of course not. I'm not allowed around the kitchen since the cake disaster two years ago."

"...That was...awesome!" Mello laughed at the memory. "That was like...it goes down in Wammy's House history, I swear!"

His husband smiled a little bit and pulled into the garage, before killing the engine. "Home sweet home..."

"Damn, already?" Mello looked around. "You look so good behind the wheel."

He smirked at Near.

"Mello is so perverted," Near laughed as he unbuckled his seat belt. "But I like it."

"Not sure if that's exactly what I meant, but...wait...what?" Mello blinked.

"Mello had better hurry or he'll be left behind!" Near called as he climbed out of the car and headed for the door into the building.

"Oh no you don't!" Mello pushed the door opened and climbed out. "Ah, fuck! I'm not gonna come up second!"

"Then Mello had better hurry~!" He heard Near tease through the rows of cars. "Last one to the room has to be tied up~!"

Mello heard him giggle rather deviously.

"Tied up?" Mello blinked and started to limp faster. "Near!"

"I was only teasing," Near giggled as Mello approached. He was standing by the garage door that lead into the hallways. "Mello knows I don't like such things... I didn't mean to frighten him."

He reached out and took the blonde's hand, before pushing open the door and slipping into the hallway.

"What made you think for a second that I was frightened?" Mello snorted.

The albino only stuck out his tongue and started down the hallway.

After only a few moments, however, he was getting tense. It seemed that everyone that passed them was staring at him rather openly - usually it was just new students who stared, most of them having never seen an albino before... the kids who he'd been around for some time were so used to his appearance that they passed by like he wasn't even there... but for some reason everyone's eyes were on him once again, like they had been on his first day.

Mello observed this a moment before he reached over and pulled the boy to him- an arm around the ivory-haired boy's shoulders.

"Hey, relax...we're home." He said.

"They're acting as if they've never seen me before," Near said with a frown, looking up at Mello. "What is going on, Mello?"

"...Hmm..." Mello frowned. "Let's get back in the room."

With a nod, Near stared back toward their room, gripping Mello's hand tightly.

"What does Mello want to do for his birthday tomorrow?" The albino pressed, trying to ignore the stares.

"Tomorrow?" Mello blinked. "It's tomorrow!?"

He seemed completely shocked.

"Tomorrow is December 13th, yes," Near chuckled, lifting an eyebrow. "Mello will be 16."

"Sixteen...wow...a whole year." Mello murmured before shaking his head. "It feels even longer sometimes too...we've been married a year, Near."

"Yes, we have," Near replied with a small smile. "January 1st is our one year..."

His smile faltered a bit and he turned his face away. After all, it had been just before Christmas - a holiday that they celebrated in Wammy's, despite the mixed religions - that Naveen had been murdered.

"Wow...and now it's statutory." Mello murmured thoughtfully.

Near blinked, before turning to look at him. "What does Mello mean?"

"We had to pull some strings to make our marriage legal, you know." Mello nuzzled Near- odd since they were still in public.

"Like using fake names?" Near offered, grinning a little. "Mister Magnus Green."

"Nataline Red, I'll kindly ask you to keep that information to yourself, young lady." Mello tapped Near's nose.

Laughing a bit, Near tugged the blonde toward their room. He twisted the handle and pushed the door open, moving to slip inside... only to freeze in the doorway.

"SURPRISE!" Came the burst as several people jumped out and pelted them with confetti. "Welcome back!"

Sound-makers and whistles went off loudly.

Near put his hands over his ears for a moment as he turned to look at Mello, a blank look on his face.

Next shared a frown with Matt, his eyes wide.

"Well, you guys don't look like you're gonna Keehl over just yet." Oliver snorted as he came up and handed Near a wrapped package.

Near snorted at the irony of Oliver's words - knowing the redhead had no idea of Mello's real name - and took the package. "What is this...?"

"Welcome home gift," One snorted. "...On top of a Christmas gift, on top of a Birthday gift, on top of an anniversary gift. Just open it."

Giving Mello another look, Near slowly unwrapped the package.

"If this thing starts buzzing and vibrating, I'm kickin' your ass." Mello warned Oliver.

"Why would he get you that?" One chuckled. "You're not Zero!"

"Besides, it's from all of us," Next cut in with a deep frown.

Near pulled out a small piece of paper and frowned, reading it aloud. "Look in the closet..." He spared a glance at the group. "Couldn't Oliver have just told me to look in the closet?"

"Yeah, but then you wouldn't get to tear the wrapping paper." Oliver hummed.